Cops seize kilo of cocaine from van passenger's lap

April 08, 2010

Police responding to a call of a person with a gun arrested a van passenger with a kilogram of cocaine in his lap and then found 9 pounds of marijuana in a nearby Southwest Side garage Wednesday night, authorities said.

Officers also arrested the driver of the van after he ran away from the vehicle parked in an alley in the 5800 block of South Albany Avenue about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer.

Police with the Mobile Strike Force responded to the call of a person with a gun and found the van parked behind a residence, Greer said. When they approached, the driver jumped out and ran away.

But the front-seat passenger who stayed had a kilogram of cocaine in his lap, Greer said.

Officers caught the driver and got permission from the owner of the home to search the garage near which the van was parked, Greer said. There they found 9 pounds of marijuana.

Police also found $7,000 in cash in their searches, Greer said.

The two people who were in the van when police arrived were being questioned, Greer said.